Contact Methods

Thanks for the reply Ms Sillyak Screwed. I don't have any other food allergies or intolerances (besides lactose intolerance that has pretty much gone away). I was tested for food allergies and have not experienced any discomfort or other issues from food, except that ketchup gives me heartburn! But I still eat it cuz I love it with home fries I never eat soy, I tried to incorporate into my diet at a mild level a few years back, But I just didn't like it unless it was deep fried and that's not healthy! As for the scope, I know what you're saying, but for own mind I must know for sure. I was annoyed at my docotor when I found out that there were tests that he had never sent me out for. If I go to the docotr with a valid complaint, I want the tests done so as an accurate diagnosis as possble can be made, as I'm sure others do too. But since the GP I had then sucked , I'm not surprised he didn't run any tests for me. It has bothered me these past 4 years, not truly knowing, it may make me sick but at least I will know.

Well I saw the Internist, after I asked if it were possible, he started my .25 of synthroid. He didn't want to do it himself but agreed that it wouldn't hurt if I gave it a shot. LOL he asked me about my symptoms of celiacs, which were for me atypical. I had constipation, tingling and numbness in my extremities (I saw a neurologist about that as well, they then had to rule out MS, man that was scary), extreme fatigue, the feeling of being drugged AND pumped full of air after I ate. Then he excused himself and went and googled neuropathy symptoms and celiacs and came back and confirmed what I had said! Yes thank you, I've done a bit of research myself Doctor Then he asked me(!) how many people also note having alopecia areata and celiacs (I have alopecia) I said it was my experience (through these boards and through others I know) that it was less than the number of people who mentioned, depression/anxiety, other immune disorders, fatigue. He then said yes, many people with one immune disorder will often develop/have others.
He ruled out fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue etc. He wants me to see a neurologist about the memory problems! And to possibly get an MRI - my god. He also wants me to have a scope for my celiacs, to see what's happening. I wasn't diagnosed by either a blood test or biopsy, my old family doctor basically said, if these things make you sick when you eat them then it's celiacs - and don't eat them! So I don't know what the internist wants to do, confirm it through a biopsy or something? It did a blood test but I'm not sure what that is going to prove since I've been gluten free for 4 years...I'm wondering if the GI Doc will make me start eating gluten again for the tests...oh boy. It may be ugly but really I'd like to know for sure, so I'll probably go a head and do it. The internist mentioned that many people who are celiac and gluten-free will still complain of fatigue so he wants to see if that is also part of the problem and if indeed I actually have it. It's going to be an interesting summer!

I became lactose intolerant after my two week outtrip at age 14 while at summer camp. Before I went on my canoe trip I had no problem with dairy, when we came back to camp I had the runs every time I drank milk. I didn't really think much of as my mom was also lactose intolerant (and I suspect she also has celiac disease!) Then 11 years later I found out I had celiac disease, went gluten-free and about two years after that I could eat dairy again no problem. I still drank a ton of lactose free milk during that time, the taste took some getting used but I did get used to it, now I don't drink regular milk even though I can because I don't like the way it tastes!! Congradulations!

OMG that is eactly what happend to me! But it happened in six months!! In a six month period, I couldn't fit into any of my clothes, it caused me mild depression. I thought, Gee, I don't feel sick after eat anymore, my bloat is gone, I have more energy, now I'm just chunky - really chunky! People don't realize how much 35lbs is! After that I joined Weight Watchers and the gym (after my extreme celiac related lethargy diminished) lost it all and then some, I'm still on the program, but I use the core program now, meshes best with the gluten-free diet.
I don't eat gluten-free breads and keep gluten-free baked goods to a minimum, they are much higher in empty calories and usually contain a lot more fat to make them moister.

Thank you for that information! Unfortunately I cannot self refer (I would if I could), I'm in Toronto and as it's public healthcare here, everyone must be referred through their family Doctor or by another specialist they see. So perhaps I will approach the Internist about seeing an Endocrinologist. My GP wants to send me to the Interist because "there are many things that cause fatigue so he should test you for other things as well"...but it couldn't be the more obvious thyroid issue I seem to be having I was just surprised that she would be so dismissive of a thyroid condition considering I'm presenting many of the symptoms and have a history. But they called me and I see the Interist this Monday, so hopefully he will try medicating me!

I found out last week that I have sub-clinical hypothyroidism after going to my GP witha complaint of fatigue. She took a few blood tests, iron, TSH and vitamin B12. My TSH is 5.28, but I've been so tired for about 5 months, so I think this is a greater imbalance for me and my t3 and t4 are normal apparently but those weren't noted onthe blood req so I'm not sure how she knows that (here they generally haveto be noted or they won't be tested but maybe that's changed ).
I've read a lot on the net that many specialists feel the normal range should be moved from 2 - 5 to 2 - 3, if this is true, I'm off mark for sure! My body temp has been 96.5 for about 3 years! But in truth it has always run lower than 97.5 my entire life. I'm upset because my family doc is reluctant to medicate me and thinks that a referal to an Endocronolgist won't help as I'm sub-clinical but I feel that dealing with these conditions on daily basis the specialist may have a differing opinion. Never mind the fact that when I was a child I was hyperthyroid (it corrected itself and my TSH is tested yearly now), my mother is hypo and has been for the last 20 years (which my GP is aware of). I don't really want to leave it as my mom was sub-clinical for about 6 -8 months and than had a such a severe drop in a 3 month period they thought her blood tests had been mixed up, her GP said it usually takes years and years to get as low as she was, not within a few months...
My skin is dry, I can't remember anything and I'm tired all time and kind of feeling 'detached' both of which are starting to depress me. Just give me the damn referal already!! She's wants to send me to an Internist, which I don't understand, Endocronologists are Interists who have sub-specialized...On top of all that my GP's office takes FOREVER to call in referals, it'll be July or August until I'm seen. I just don't want to be tired anymore. It's not as bad as the fatigue I experienced when I was diagnosed with celiac disease, but still trying.

I have been on WW for 3.5 years - gluten-free for 4! I've been a life time member for about 1.5 years. As soon as they released the Core Program I went on it and never looked back. It compliments a gluten-free diet well in my experience. However I should note that I don't eat gluten-free bread very much as it tends to be much higher in points for the quantity you get. But I have found a nice bread that is 2 pts/slice that I have toasted once in a while. But the core program is great, no processed foods are on the list, it's all whole foods, meats, veggies fruits etc. You can have as much (literally) core foods as you want. including avocado which is 2pts/quarter on flex. Mmmm zero point guacamole. I spend my 35 'extra' points per week usually on sweets
I confirmed with my WW Leader that my brand of brown rice pasta was indeed a core item, it is organic and the only ingredients are brown rice, rice bran and water (Rizopia - Organic Brown Rice Pasta). She said since brown rice itself is free and this product is organic with no other ingredients or preservatives it would be considered core, which is great! Now not only people who eat a bowl of whole wheat pasta can enjoy the zero points
WW helped me lose the 35lbs I gained after I went gluten-free (I didn't have the weightloss often associated with celiac disease as others have experienced) - mainly from the increased calories in gluten-free products. I also found that many rice breads weren't filling in the long run, I would have sandwich and be hungry shortly after and have another, add to that the increase in calories and fat in many gluten-free free breads and yikes...chunky monkey

I was sleeping about 16 hours a day just before and for a few months after being diagnosed, I was anemic. It wasn't until a full year after going gluten-free, that I didn't tire easily (i.e. I wouldn't wake up tired, but I could still tire if I walked around downtown shopping etc). It clears up and then you feel amazed at the amount of energy you have! I also used to get really lethargic and an almost doped up feeling after eating during those few months after diagnosis, thankfully that went way. It was like I had just eaten a huge Christmas dinner, every day for three four months! Awful, it seems like you will feel tired forever, which can be depressing but it goes away. Like others have said, once he heals, it won't sleep as much. Unless his fatigue is due to something else, but chances are it's from lack of vitamins and nutrients.

I'm so sorry people have to had to go through these negative experiences with their partners. I found out I had celiac disease about 2 months into my 4 year (as of May 10!) relationship and it was never a big deal (and now I've found out just last week that I'm sub-clinical hypothyroid - also runs in my family, still no biggee for him). Nor has it been a big deal for any of my family or friends. (I suspect my mother has it, I'm trying to get her to ask her Gastrointerologist to perform a biopsy at her next check-up) and my boyfriends aunt who lives in Europe has it. But regardless, no one else I have encountered has been negative either. My friend found out she had after we had a big discussion on her IBS that never really got better! I always approach the subject as if it were more a kin to an allergy, people seem to relate easier to this, I can't eat it "..." because it contains gluten and I have a reaction to it. Some people will ask how I feel about being so restricted, but I say that it's not as bad as you would think and that I eat healthier and am actually healthier than I was before because I have had to eliminate a lot of processed and junk foods from my diet (which is true). I feel how you handle it and explain it can dictate how people react to it.
If my boyfriend ever worried about having children with me because our children *may* inherit it (although with him it could also come from his side as well) he would be soooo long gone. That is just ridiculous, what about his family history? I'd be more worried about procreating with someone who has a history of diabetes, cancer or other diseases before I'd worry about something benign like celiac disease. Because someone would discount you or parenting with you because you can't eat a piece of bread or have chicken noodle soup is extremely offensive and shallow - and to be quite honest I'd tell them that too. Anyone who would have those qualms, in my opinion, is selfish, immature and doesn't really understand celiac disease or what it means to really care about someone. It may not seem so at first but you're better off without them.
And it is so true! Men/Women are like subways - another will pass by in 10 minutes! (One of my mothers favourite sayings).

I have also used flax seed in yogurt, 2 tbsp gave relieve from constipation in 24 hours, although it did cause some cramping for me. But it sure does work. I've also used in muffins, it added a kind of nutty taste I enjoyed! Your daughter might enjoy in baked goods or smoothies as Tarnalberry suggested, mixed with yogurt the flavour can be a bit over powering and might not be to a child's liking (I can safely say I wouldn't have liked the taste as child but as an adult I can bear knowing it's for the greater good of my bowels ; )
Another alternative are gluten-free baked beans, I get a lot of fibre from baked beans, I've always loved them warmed on top of toast!

I find that unless I mke a conscious effort to inlude a lot of fibre in my diet, I experience constipation. Although prior my diagnosis I was also constipated, I didn't experience the diarhea that others have spoken about on these boards. So as for going from diarhea to constiption being normal, I'm not sure. Someone on the parents board might be able to give you more insight into what to expect with bowel movements in healing children.
Good luck!

I went to my quarterly Celiac association meeting (Toronto, Canada Chapter) last night and found out the Metamucil is gluten-free, I had no idea and had been avoiding it as I thought it was wheat derived. The dietician panel also said that as it is a natural fibre it is safe to consume on a regular basis and is a good source of added fibre for people with celaics! Great news I thought I would share for those like me who did not know it.

Found another great place - Sweet Everythings - at the St. Lawrence Market - North side farmers market (there is no sign but the up the centre aisle ha;f way back). They have a great selection of gluten-free baked good - muffins (that are as large as a regular muffin - as some gluten-free muffins tend to be quite rather small and flat), banana bread, cookies, brownies, scones, and also offer pizza's (you have to order those ahead of time) etc. They are there every satuday from 5 am - 2pm. (they also have regular baked good but assured myself and another gluten-free shopper that all gluten-free products were truely gluten-free)
I've tried the scones (a little dry), brownies (really good - they specialize in making belgian chocolate), banana bread (very moist), and their cranberry and 'ontario' muffins (carrot muffins with some bits of berries - both were very good and very moist) also tried their 'dream cookies' - two gluten-free peanut butter cookies with a creamy peanut butter middle dipped in chocolate - they are addictive. All in all they have great baked goods, very moist and reasonably priced. I got a 12 muffins, 4 scones (that are so large I cut them in half and eat half as a serving), a banana bread loaf and two very large brownies for $35. Their items also freeze very well.
You can e-mail them weekly to find out what gluten-free items they have to offer that weekend, if you want to place an order they ask that it is placed before wednesday for a saturday pick-up.
Here's their e-mail address for those interested in contacting them:
sweete@quicklinks.on.ca
Have a great long weekend!

Follow Us

Like us on Facebook

About Us

Celiac.com was founded in 1995 by Scott Adams, author of Cereal Killers, founder and publisher of Journal of Gluten Sensitivity, and founder of The Gluten-Free Mall, who had a single goal for the site: To help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed and living a happy, healthy gluten-free life!